| Devotional Hours with the Bible |
Chapter 10 |
Page 5 |
The traveler was intelligent and quickly understood Philip’s explanation. He had a good teacher, too, and at once wanted to confess Christ. “The eunuch saith, Behold, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?” He did not propose to be a secret disciple, but desired to make open confession. The moment the vision of Christ is opened to any soul, there should be, first, instant acceptance, and then, at the earliest possible moment, public confession. Some people imagine they can be good Christians without taking an open stand. But confession is a large part of faith. We should wait for nothing. Fuller instruction will come afterwards.
“He went on his way rejoicing.” He did not give up his journey and go back among the other Christians because he was now a Christian. He went on the way to his own country, and probably continued in his place as the queen’s treasurer. A newborn Christian is not to give up his pursuit in life because he has given himself to Christ. Of course, if the pursuit is a wicked one it must be given up; but if one’s occupation is right, he is usually to stick to it, carrying Christ with him into it. A carpenter when converted is ordinarily to continue to be a carpenter with Christ. Another thought suggested here is that Christ gives joy. Some people think religion would rob them of joy. Certainly it did not have this effect upon this Ethiopian. Life was all changed for him after he had received Christ. He went on his way, but his heart was full of song. He was like one of those clocks with a music box hidden in it that plays a sweet tune each time the clock strikes the hour. The clock does not stop to give the music, but keeps ticking on and making music at the same time. The Christian goes on in his work, but while he works his heart sings, and the songs make the way shorter and burdens lighter. At the same time they give cheer to others on whose ears they fall.
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